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The Virtues of Vineyards and Dive Bars

My last visit to a winery didn’t end well. You might remember the grand finale found me like so for the better part of a weekend:

When it’s happy hour I reach for one of these normally:

So when friends suggested a drive through a few Amador County vineyards last weekend I wasn’t sure. Meeting for a pint involves a t-shirt, jeans, and the time it takes to scrounge up enough quarters to hijack the jukebox for the duration. Strolling through a vineyard involves a rather lady-like disposition that I don’t carry naturally. I’m not saying I’m completely hopeless but I do feel most comfortable in more casual surroundings. More working class than 1st class establishments, does that make sense? Not that there’s anything wrong with either persuasion but I’m getting away from my story as usual. How about another pic to get us back on track?

I’m glad for the friendly suggestion because it was a beautiful day and I managed to sip at a pace that my frame was able to contend with. “No big gulps,” was my quiet mantra that served me well for a change. So this is adulthood? It’s a new pace for me but one I can appreciate. It’s about savoring the moment rather than greedily devouring what’s in front of you in search of that anesthetic finish. I loved Amador county but not enough to walk away from my favorite dive bar jukebox after a long day at work.

At the end of the day I was upright and clear headed! Oh Adulthood, I don’t care what the others say about you. You can be fun sometimes!

What about you dear reader? Does your beverage of choice come in a tall curvy glass, a tumbler, or a mug? Is it bubbly, hoppy, or earthy? Do you have a go to song on the jukebox? (P.S.: Suspicious Minds and Right Down the Line are already taken.)

Jukebox favorites, oh, there are many. I recall in the 80s popping a dime(!) in at Thursday midnight to play Loverboy’s “Working for the Weekend.” Really. A really cool bar box will have Springsteen’s “Tunnel of Love” for a carnival feel. I’ll complete my triple play with Pure Prairie League’s “Aimee” because that one always got the entire bar singing along in my 1976 and 77 Morrisville College upstate New York winters.

FYI, you really do “adulthood trip”-up quite nicely, Sandra. The flower in your hair is a nice wine country touch!

I was apart of a knitting group for several years and occasionally an Amy would join us. Each time I’d have that fantastic song stuck in my head for the duration of our visit. Pure Prairie League is one of my favorite band names of all time. There’s gotta be a story behind that name. Nice choices, Bro! It would be a pleasure to share the jukebox with you some time! In fact the first batch of songs and the first round is on me. 😉

I am equal-glass utilizer … if that makes any sense. I’ll be guest bar tending tonight at a local orchard’s distillery: ciders, vodka and gin mixers. Can’t complain about that (aside my not being a “cider guy” I enjoy this stuff.”

As for jukebox songs, I’m the guy who picks long songs to get his “money’s worth.” Led Zeppelin’s cover of “In My Time of Dying,” Umphrey’s McGee’s “Mantis,” and Paul Butterfield”s Blues Band’s “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” are at the top of my list.

Wow, didn’t know you grew up in S. Africa. Now I’ve got Toto in my head. “Gonna take a lot to take me away from you…there’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do…I bless the rains down in Africa….” I hope you know that song, otherwise I just sound like a crazy lady. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQbiNvZqaY&feature=kp

My style is more a pint of a dark beer along with some BBQ or other pub grub. After hiking Mt Monadnock on Sunday, the song going through my head is Toby Keith’s “I’m Not As Good As I Once Was” – ha ha ha

Right, not as good. Better than good 😉 I can’t hike down the street in the shape I’m in without breaking a sweat. And yet you are rockin and rollin through Mt Monadnock in your free time. I’m impressed.

I will drink nearly anything in a cold glass because I am cheap. We just spent 5 days in Myrtle Beach and I thought I would “when in Rome” and drink fruity rum drinks but hot damn, $10 is too much for a drink. So I had a few pints of Landshark beer. Not what I wanted, but I’m thrifty to the core. We did finally break down and have a $15 “booze in a blender” margarita at Margaritaville, but I’m afraid they must have forgot the alcohol. Mojitos are great, but mama loves her wine. No big gulps is a hard one. 🙂 If I’m shooting pool, I want to hear “Lyin’ Eyes” or “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.” I’m the girl who plops $15 in the jukebox and plays an assortment of tunes, assessing the clientele and playing what they might want, whether that’s Whitesnake or Old Hank. I hate it when someone plays an entire album. The Golden Rule, peeps.